This Ty Is Far From Scoreless

But Detmer Isn`t Counting On A Heisman Repeat

ANAHEIM — Ann Landers wrote in a column that parents shouldn`t name their babies after sports celebrities because their star will be out after a few years.

They didn`t take her advice in Utah.

In much the same manner that Ryne became a popular name in Chicago because of a certain Cub, Ty now is becoming the name of choice for baby boys out West. And it`s not because of Ty Cobb.

``I`ve had people come up to me and say they`ve named their kid after me,`` said 1990 Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer. ``That`s kind of an honor when you think about it.``

If Detmer wins a second Heisman Trophy this year, they`ll name their girls Ty, too.

Detmer`s name still isn`t as big as Brigham Young`s in Utah, but it`s not far behind. Watching the BYU quarterback became a second religion last season. Detmer broke 31 NCAA records last year, including most passing yards in a season (5,188). Unlike his famous predecessors Jim McMahon and Steve Young, Detmer caught the nation`s imagination to win BYU`s first Heisman Trophy.

But he has learned that success has its downside. He`s being asked to do it again, which is tough enough. However, even worse, the defending Heisman winner still has to prove himself.

Even though he has a chance to join Ohio State`s Archie Griffin as college football`s only other two-time Heisman Trophy winner, Detmer isn`t even the favorite for the award this year. Virtually every expert is touting Houston quarterback David Klingler.

In fact, if a second vote had been taken after last year`s bowls, Detmer probably wouldn`t have his one Heisman. He was a narrow winner over Notre Dame`s Rocket Ismail and then went out and played as if he didn`t want the award.

Hours after learning he had won the Heisman, Detmer threw five interceptions as Hawaii routed BYU. Then he separated both shoulders in the Cougars` 65-14 loss to Texas A&M in the Holiday Bowl.

Detmer went from Heisman to Slice `N` Diceman.

``It hurt to lose those two games,`` he said. ``We had such a great season, and then to have that happen-it took some luster off the Heisman. But the Heisman isn`t won in one or two games. It`s won over a whole season.``

The betting odds are that Detmer`s bid to repeat won`t last until halftime of BYU`s first game. The Cougars open the season against No. 1 Florida State Thursday in the Pigskin Classic in Anaheim Stadium. Then, if that isn`t bad enough, BYU plays its next two games against UCLA and Penn State. A bad game early should seal his chances.

To make matters worse, Detmer is one of the few starters returning from last year`s team, meaning he`s likely to be a victim of the inexperience around him.

``It might be helter-skelter out there in the first half,`` he said.

Florida State coach Bobby Bowden also is expecting to see helter-skelter, but not in the form of BYU`s inexperience.

``Detmer does so many things out there,`` he said. ``It`s so hard to defense against a quarterback who can throw on the run. He`s one of those guys who can beat you single-handedly.``

Detmer probably won the Heisman for single-handedly beating No. 1 Miami in last year`s season-opener. It might have been the best performance of the year, as Detmer scrambled, dodged and improvised-and even bounced back from a six-stitch gash on his chin.

The game left enough of an impression on the voters that they had a dinner for him at the Downtown Athletic Club in New York. ``It was really a great experience,`` said Detmer of the Heisman award presentation.

Since then, he has endured the sudden fame that comes along with winning the Heisman. He was in constant demand for speeches, and he couldn`t go to a restaurant in Provo without being overwhelmed by his followers.

Yet even in glory, Detmer remained the low-key counterpart to the outrageous McMahon. He`s exceedingly humble, and he calls reporters ``Sir.``

McMahon calls them something else.

Detmer, a former Methodist, also converted to the Mormon faith in February and got married in July.

Little wonder Detmer was anxious for the season to start, if for no other reason than to get some peace and quiet.

``It wasn`t overwhelming,`` he said. ``It was different because everybody knows who you are. I figure that was just part of it. It`s been fun.``

How much fun Detmer has in 1991 will depend on his right shoulder. He had it operated on in January, a procedure that required a pin to be inserted.

Once the pin came out, Detmer started throwing again. He insists the arm is as strong as ever, although arm strength never has been one of his pluses. Size always has been the knock against Detmer, who is charitably listed at 6 feet. He says he`s gained 15 pounds, bringing his weight up to 185.

Yet the adjective used to describe him remains ``slight.`` He said he passed up coming out early for the pro draft because he made a four-year commitment to BYU. But, truth be told, the pro scouts put him in the same category as another talented but short Heisman Trophy winner, Doug Flutie: